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Boracay Cup – AY Race Report 3

Huge broaches, premature starters and a broken mast rounds out Day 2…
By AsianYachting MultiMedia

29:02:2012 Boracay, Philippines: The relentless ENE breeze pumping in with gusts up to 25 knots revealed some flaws in the crew work and caught others off guard. All skippers called for small headsail’s and some reefed the mainsail to balance the boat in the heavy going. Right on cue the Racing Class hit the start line and never gave an inch away in their pursuit for clear air and superior boat speed. Having recovered from yesterdays confusion, the Cruiser/Racer Class made a point of checking out the course boards, which revealed windward/leeward courses for them and the Racing Class, while the PY Class were sent on a circumnavigation of Boracay Island.

Frank Pong’s Reichel/Pugh 76 Jelik III continues to blitz the fleet with line honours but a few small hiccups left them down the order in the first race but fired back with third place in the second race. Always fully crewed with top notch sailors Neil Pryde’s Welbourn 52 Hi Fi claimed handicap honours in both races today, despite being amongst the three recalled boats in the second race. Similar story on Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa helmed by Steve Benjamin and designer Alan Andrews amongst the star studded crew, seem to be outclassed at the back of the fleet but when handicaps are applied have scored two second places and left the others trailing in their wake. In the battle for supremacy between the TP52’s, Ernesto Echauz’s TP52 Jelik V with the all Philippine crew slotted into third place in the first race and Sam Chan’s defending champion TP52 Freefire just toppled them in the second race.

Martin Tanco’s X452 Challenge returns to the fold, making it four yachts in the IRC Cruiser/Racer Class. Fully bottled up with the course instructions, they all jostled for position upwind but the real fun and games started on the spinnaker run downwind. Several extra strong gusts caught Challenge and Selma Star off guard and a pandemonium of broaches followed which violently shook the rig and tore some spinnakers. Klaas Huisjes Sydney 36 Sandoway and Peter Sorensen’s Farr 1104 Rags came through cleanly to respectively claim Line and Handicap Honours in the first race. Martin Tanco’s Challenge recovered to slot into third place. In the second race Jesus Avecilla returned to helm his Beneteau First 36.7 Selma Star C! Calibre ROX and after a controlled run claimed first place by a mere ten seconds over Klaas Huisjes Sandoway that took Line Honours but lost time with a broach and changed to goose winging the headsail. More difficulties on Martin Tanco’s Challenge left them heading for the finish bare headed and in third place.

“We are missing one boat” said assistant PRO Medy. Upon scanning the course Peter Sorensen’s chartered Farr 1104 Rags could be seen at the top mark with the sails down and what looked like a shiny length of aluminum precariously hanging over the side. Closer inspection showed the tang on the cap shroud had parted company and put an end to Sorensen adding another trophy to his already over flowing cabinet

The PY Cruising Class were sent on a circumnavigation of Boracay Island. David Mc Kenna’s Sun Odyssey 42 Raparee XXX was first to appear in the Boracay Channel and the crew carefully guided it to the finish line and claim the daily double. Twenty three minutes latter David Wheeler’s Cape Carib 31 Freewheeler came into view but missed out by four minutes on ruining Raparee XXX celebrations.

Racing continues tomorrow and another lengthy passage race is scheduled which should see the podium places taking shape.

The races are organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentleman’s Sailing (SAGS) club of Subic Bay, under the auspices of the Philippine Sailing Association in coordination with the Subic Bay Yacht Club, Watercraft Ventures, Inc., the Lighthouse Marina Resort, the provincial government of Aklan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Philippine Coast Guard and the Subic Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC).